Millard begins defence in murder trial for the presumed death of Laura Babcock

Crown attorney Ken Lockhart, right, questions retired OPP Det. Sgt. Jim Falconer, second from right, as photos are displayed and Justice Michael Code, centre top, Dellen Millard, front, and Mark Smich, red checked shirt, look on in this artist's sketch from court in Toronto on Nov. 9, 2017. The jury at a first-degree murder trial for two men accused of killing a young Toronto woman who vanished five years ago will find out if they'll call a defence. Dellen Millard and Mark Smich are accused of killing Laura Babcock in the summer of 2012 and burning her body in an animal incinerator. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexandra Newbould

November 27, 2017 - 11:41 AM

TORONTO - An accused killer brought forward a series of admissions as part of his defence, with one that focused on a possible sighting of a young Toronto woman who vanished more than five years ago.

The self-represented Dellen Millard has not given an opening statement to the jury in his defence to a first-degree murder charge for the presumed death of Laura Babcock, 23, in the summer of 2012.

Millard also went through a lengthy series of text messages he sent and received with friends, including numerous texts with Babcock.

Millard, 32, of Toronto, and Mark Smich, 30, of Oakville, Ont., have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

The Crown alleges the pair killed Babcock because she was the odd woman out in a love triangle with Millard and his girlfriend.

The prosecution contends they burned Babcock's remains in a large animal incinerator that was later found on Millard's farm near Waterloo, Ont. Her body has not been found.

Millard read through part of a statement given to police by Shawn Lerner, Babcock's ex-boyfriend.

Court has heard that Lerner conducted his own investigation into Babcock's disappearance and spoke to a man named Bradley Dean.

Dean, who had met up with Babcock in the days before she vanished, told Lerner he saw her on July 10, 2012, at a downtown Toronto bar.

Dean testified earlier in trial that he had misremembered when he last saw Babcock and court has heard that she stopped communicating with friends and family on July 3.

Millard also showed the jury texts he exchanged with Babcock, some discussing meeting up to hang out and smoke weed.

Millard also read through a number of texts about his problems sleeping.

OPINION The global food system is amazing. We have created a process that can put enormous diversity of food onto any plate in our province, assuming the plate will be sliding in front of someone who can afford to pay